Zambia's Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has honoured a policewoman who rejected a $50,000 bribe from a bulk cash-smuggling suspect at the country's main airport in the capital, Lusaka.

Detective Sergeant Ruth Nyambe, attached to the Airports Division, refused to accept the money from a suspect who, during screening, was allegedly found in possession of $2.3 million in cash and seven suspected gold bars at the Kenneth Kaunda International Airport.

Zambian police said the incident happened on February 5, 2025.

ACC stated that the unnamed suspect initially offered Nyambe a bribe of $5,000, but when she rejected it, the suspect increased the offer to $50,000 to be allowed to proceed with their journey.

'Exceptional integrity'

Once again, Nyambe refused to budge, instead escalating the matter to Zambia's Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC), leading to the suspect's arrest.

The suspect was travelling from Lusaka to an unnamed destination, according to Zambia's Lusaka Times.

ACC honoured Nyambe on Tuesday, December 23, during the anti-corruption agency's Chief Executive Officers' Forum in Lusaka.

ACC said it feted the police officer for "exceptional integrity in the performance" of her duty.

Work promotion

ACC Director-General Daphne Chabu honoured Nyambe with the agency's Integrity Award. It was not immediately clear whether cash reward accompanied the recognition.

On Wednesday, Zambia's Inspector-General of Police Graphel Musamba promoted Nyambe to the rank of Inspector of Police, from Sergeant.

The police service said Nyambe's promotion was "in recognition of her integrity, outstanding performance, and refusal to accept bribes."

Separately, Inspector-General Musamba promoted Sergeant Samuel Mbewe to the rank of inspector after he refused a 20,000-Zambian kwacha ($890) bribe from a foreigner.

Other recognitions

The foreigner had offered the bribe after breaching traffic rules in Kitwe district in the country's Copperbelt Province on February 5, 2025.

The police service stated on Wednesday that Mbewe, instead, arrested the foreigner who was driving an unregistered motor vehicle.

Meanwhile, the anti-corruption agency, ACC, on Tuesday also recognised an official of Zambia's agriculture ministry for rejecting a 160,000-kwacha ($7,100) bribe from a milling company.

Technical Plant Health Inspector Hendrix Mwinga impounded three truckloads of unsafe wheat being transported from South Africa.

Harmful material

According to ACC, the wheat consignment, which was intercepted at Kazungula border town in southern Zambia, contained harmful material.

After Mwinga's intervention, Zambia rejected the wheat consignment and ordered that it be returned to South Africa.